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Traverse City City Mayor

Term: 2 yearsAs provided by Michigan Law and the City Charter, for ceremonial purposes, the Mayor is the chief executive officer of the city. The Mayor presides over all meetings of the City Commission and has a voice and vote on all matters before the City Commission, but is without veto power. The Mayor authenticates various items by signature as the City Commission, City Charter, Michigan Law require.

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Jim Carruthers (N)Mayor, City of Traverse City

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Biographical Information

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Qualifications & ExperienceServed 8 years on Parks & Recreation, 8 years on TCLP, 8 years as a City Commissioner, 6 years as Chair of GT Co Resource Recovery Council, 6 years as Chair of Traverse Transportation Coordianting Initiative (formally TCTALUS) and currently have served 2 years on the Downtown Development Authority.

I originally got started in City politics when I advocated for Traverse City Light and Power to construct the first and largest municipally owned wind generator in the country here in Traverse City. I then became a TCLP board member and served 8 years on the board. I served on the Parks a and Recreation Commission for 8 years and was Chair of Grand Traverse County's Resource Recovery Council. I was a City Commissioner for 8 years and Mayor for the past 2 years. In my tenure, I have advocated for sensible development and growth that maintains the special character of our town while protecting our single family neighborhoods. I advocated for a 30% renewable energy goal by the year 2020 and as Mayor, I have set a goal for Traverse City to become 100% renewable by 2020. I volunteered for the Traverse City Human Rights Commission and my advocacy for the LGBT community earned me the annual Traverse City Sara Hardy Humanitarian Awarded in 1995. I also received the ACLU Dean Robb Unsung Hero Award for social justice in 2011 and the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council 2017 Environmentalist of the Year Award for Public Service/Public Office. I would like to continue my services as Mayor supporting this great town.

My priorities are continuing to concentrate on fixing our aging infrustructure. Budgeting to fix our roads, water and sewer lines, extending our sidewalk network, re-investing in our parks and making our streets safer for motorists, bicycles and pedestrians. I also want to support managed growth that protects the charactor that draws so many people here. Look at our Zoning Codes so we can promote wise growth and building opportunities that will protect the character of our downtown and our residential neighborhoods, while supporting our environment and housing options for all who want to locate here. I would continue managing our Boardman River Restoration project and investing in upgrades to our Senior Center. And finally, I would encourage our Chamber of Commerce to work harder at promoting good middle class manufacturing tech industry jobs and local agricultural opportunities, taking advantage of the resources we have in our region through Northwestern Michigan College and our existing manufacturing and agricultural base.

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